RE: [Chrysler300] Replacement Battery

["Rich Barber" <c300@xxxxxxx>]

Thanks to all for contributing to this design/equipment detail.

But, I'd like to take this opportunity to again ask if anyone feels they
really know for sure what brand or brands of 6-Volt, positive ground
orientation batteries originally came in 1955 Chrysler 300's.  

Antique Auto Battery's online catalog indicates they produce the same
6-Volt, Group 2 battery with either a Willard or a MoPar label, apparently
molded in.  Is either one or both a reproduction of the Original Equipment
battery?  Apparently there is no reproduction Auto-Lite battery with the
hyphen.  What about the issue of molded in vs. stick on labels for the '55
batteries?  If stick-on labels are correct, are they available for the
6-Volt battery?

Regarding the threat of acid boiloff and spatter from normally and
abnormally charged batteries, I recall my boats had molded plastic covers
that fit over and around their batteries, presumably to reduce the
probability of shorting out if a wrench were dropped onto the battery, to
divert evolved hydrogen and acid mist downward and even to divert fresh or
salt water away from the battery in case of rain or leaks in the cooling
system.  Installing one of these covers might be a good idea when driving
between concours judged events.  I think they were held in place with webbed
straps and could be removed easily and quickly.

I also recall the acrid smell emanating from batteries receiving fast
charges.  Bubbling evolved gases carried acid fog into the air all around
the batteries at the old Phillips 66 station in Des Moines.  When the
ammeter in the dash indicated the electrical system was overcharging the
battery, a common temporary fix was to turn on the headlights, heater fan
and any other electrical load possible to reduce cooking of the battery.
Probably still a proper action.  Bashing the voltage regulator would also
sometimes unstick the points.  Not very high-tech or effective.

C-300'ly
Rich Barber
Brentwood, CA
1955 C-300 (6-Volts-deemed to be inadequate by Chrysler, Ford and their
customers, one year after The General switched--Imperials switched first)

-----Original Message-----
From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Owen Grigg
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 7:32 PM
To: 'Dave Geise'; 'Bob Jasinski'; 'Chrysler 300'; 'Wayne Graefen'; 'G & E
Riehl'; Lettercars@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [Chrysler300] Replacement Battery

Hi all,

After a fair amount of digging around for a correct battery I have found a
group 27 Willard, black hard rubber case, "Willard" on the side, tar top
with red caps. As far as I know this is very close, if not 100% correct for
the 300C, maybe Wayne, Gil, or George could comment on that?
Anyway it's available through Antique Auto Battery listed as.....
G27 lead acid battery $145 + ship
G27/B maintenance free battery $250 + ship

Hope this helps
Owen
     

-----Original Message-----
From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Dave Geise
Sent: Tuesday, 11 April 2006 12:45 p.m.
To: Bob Jasinski; Chrysler 300
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Replacement Battery

Bob Jasinski wrote:

>Tony and list,
> 
>I received the following email from George Riehl yesterday in response to
my
>battery post.  George shares some background on the "Auto-Lite" brand that
>was unknown to me prior to his email.  Please read the attached, as a repro
>"Autolite" battery, without the hyphen as in "Auto-Lite" is a Ford
>replacement and technically NOT correct due to the hyphen.  Due to this
>small but important detail, I would say that there really isn't a "correct"
>repro battery offered by anyone I am aware of.  I suppose the closest thing
>would be the MoPar type with the molded case, but as I said before it's not
>what was in the car from new either, as the MoPar batteries offered in the
>late '50s and early ''60s used a label, not a molded script.  Does anyone
>make a "Willard" group 27???  That would be correct as best as I can tell.
> 
>Bob J
>Hi Bob;
>
>Just a note to set things right. "Autolite" name is not to be used on any
>Chrysler product. Reason why? The Autolite name is owned by Ford Motor
>Company. (Autolite Spark Plugs, etc.) When Ford bought "Auto-Lite" years
>ago, they had to spend over a million dollars to remove the hyphen in
>Auto-Lite under the terms of purchase. "Auto-Lite" was exclusivly made for
>Chrysler Corp. in the early years. When A-L was sold, Prestolite come into
>the market.
>
>"MoPar" (Motor Parts Division) was a division of Chrysler as a supplier of
>"rebuilt" parts and other factory authorized parts, not always "made" by
>Chrysler. "MoPar" parts could be sold under that name by an "authorized"
>
>independent parts supply house approved by Chrysler. Those suppliers also
>had to pay a "royalty" on parts so named back to Chrysler.
>
>It is interesting to note that some cars that are "authentically" restored
>show "Autolite" batteries or "MoPar" which are not correct as factory
>installed. Willard and Auto-Lite batteries were original equipment up to
>somewhere in '63 - '64.
>
>On another note, the 27 series batteries came in two styles, one for Ford,
>one for Chrysler. The difference, the Ford pos. and neg. posts were
opposite
>of the Chrysler posts.
>
>Ah, trivia!
>
>George Riehl
>
>
>  _____  
>
>From: Tony Rinaldi [mailto:awrdoc@xxxxxxxxx] 
>Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 11:59 AM
>To: Bob Jasinski
>Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Replacement Battery
>
>
>Hi Bob,
>
>Your reply sure sounds authoritative to me. Founded upon experience and
>research.
>
>Autolite may have been in some of these cars, but today in the classic car
>enthusiast's world, Autolite=FORD.
>
>The Autolite batteries are shown in Mustangs, TBs, Fords etc.
>
>I am hearing that it would stand out like a sore thumb and people are used
>to seeing the Mopar Forward Look battery.
>
>Not that I am looking to be judged at concours, but I am told that points
>would be taken off with an Autolite battery????
>
>I usually don't go with the flow all the time as exemplified by liking
>Mopars and having a Mac computer.
>
>Sooo, what's a guy to do??
>
>Regards,
>Tony
>
>
>
>  _____  
>
>From: Bob Jasinski <rpjasin@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 18:14:48 -0800
>To: 'Chrysler 300 Club' <Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: RE: [Chrysler300] Replacement Battery
>
>As many of you know, I have had an interest in original batteries for our
>Brutes for years.  In 1982 I compiled a collection of copies of original
>MoPar battery sales literature as offered by the Chrysler dealer parts
>department.  I have illustrations of every MoPar battery offered from 1950
>to 1965. 
>
>Please note, I am talking about MoPar REPLACEMENT batteries, not
necessarily
>what was put in the car at the factory.  I can't speak for other years, but
>I do know that the 300G had an AutoLite installed from the factory, as the
>brand name can be seen in at least one magazine article published when the
>car was new.  Also, the AEA Tune up spec's list AutoLite and Willard as the
>correct battery for the 1961 Chryslers.  If I was going to seek out the
>absolutely most "correct" battery for a 300G (and probably other years) I
>would contact the vintage battery companies offering same and buy a group
27
>Autolite.  I have seen them advertised in the past year or so and I think
>they are available from New Castle battery.
>
>The molded case "MoPar" battery looks nice, but really isn't correct,
>because the MoPar script was on a label, not molded in for the years
>1958-1962.  That's why I would go for the Autolite if I could find it.
>Having said all that, due to the cost of the battery and shipping and all,
I
>buy generic looking black case group 27 batteries locally and put on one of
>the MoPar Forward look stickers I had made up way back in the early '80s.
>They look good in the engine compartment and for a car that is driven and
>enjoyed I can replace it for about $50.
>
>Bob J   
>Danville, CA
>
>
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>To send a message to this group, send an email to:
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>
>
> 
>
>
>
>
>  
>
Bob and group,
     I have a Willard group 27 in my "C" supplied by Antique Auto 
Battery, Hudson, Ohio.  I am
on my second battery since resto in 2000.  Hate to throw those hard 
rubber cases away but they
won't rebuild them. This is the closest thing to a true tar top that is 
available.  As you probably  know, the filler material is a poured 
urethane that is hard with the appearance of a soft top.  As of
a year ago, they were still available.

                       Regards,
                       Dave Geise  - NJ



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